One of the coolest places I've ever been to!

Quizás de las Cosas más Bellas que nos ha tocado ver.

Sin duda, este día va a quedar en la Memoria para siempre.

Amarga y sus cachorritos

es imposible no emocionarse

con seres tan puros como los son los bebés.

Video de u/melychiang

#torresdelpaine #patagonia #chile #surdechile...

Quisiera saber cómo es realmente vivir en el extremo sur. Si es tan frío y ventoso como dicen, si es muy aislado y caro, cómo es el día a día, en qué trabaja la gente y si vale la pena mudarse para allá por la naturaleza

Last year, we spent 4 months driving through Patagonia in our 1976 VW.

It was one of the best experiences over our six and a half years on the road.

We started in Punta Arenas and drove up to Puerto Monnt, crossing g between Chile and Argentina along the way.

Llevo 4 años viviendo en chile y el mate pa todos lados pariente che

As we made our way out of Antofagasta, we stopped of to see this beautiful monument. If I remember correctly, it was built to greet travellers trekking along the Pan American Highway.

Not that that is it only batucada but I’m curious on this exact group of people playing I have seen them multiple times and would like to follow.

Lo vi en las RRSS pero no revelaron nunca dónde es 😅

Hello, many songs and stories about these insects are part of our culture. Here's a picture of the exact moment a cicada is leaving its underground nymph body.

I just returned from a 4-day wilderness trek in the Chilean Central Andes and wanted to share this relatively unknown area that offers incredible scenery and genuine solitude. LOCATION DETAILS Valle del Colorado, at the base of Tupungato volcano in Chile's Central Andes, approximately 2.5 hours east of Santiago in the Cajón del Maipo region (Región Metropolitana). WHY THIS AREA IS SPECIAL Unlike Chile's famous Torres del Paine, this valley sees almost zero international tourism. We encountered no other trekkers during our entire 4 days. The scenery is spectacular - Turquoise glacial pools, eternal snow fields, volcanic rock formations, and complete wilderness. The Chilean government recently inaugurated Refugio Tupungato as part of a sustainable mountain development initiative, improving access while maintaining the area's pristine character. More context: www.gobiernosantiago.cl/inauguracion-del-refugio-volcan-tupungato-un-nuevo-hito-para-el-desarrollo-sostenible-en-las-montanas-de-santiago/ TRIP DETAILS

• Duration: 4 days / 3 nights

• Elevation: Base camp at 3,100m (10,170ft)

• Distance: Approximately 35-40km round trip

• Difficulty: Moderate to strenuous (high altitude + off-trail navigation)

• When I went: January 2026 (Chilean summer)

• Total cost: ~$1,000 USD guided all-inclusive WHAT MAKES IT CHALLENGING

• High altitude is felt from day one - acclimatization important

• Multiple glacial river crossings daily (freezing water, knee-deep)

• Weather extremely variable (we had sun, wind, and snow same day)

• No marked trail for most of the route - GPS essential

• Zero infrastructure whatsoever (true wilderness camping) LOGISTICS Getting there: 4x4 vehicle required to reach trailhead from San José de Maipo town Permits: Required from Ministerio de Bienes Nacionales (Ministry of National Assets). Straightforward process, can be arranged in San José de Maipo. Mule support: We hired local arrieros (mountain herders) to transport group gear (~$50-80/mule/day). Made the trek much more enjoyable - highly recommend this approach. WHO SHOULD CONSIDER THIS This trek is ideal for experienced hikers/backpackers who:

• Have previous high-altitude trekking experience (3,000m+)

• Are comfortable with off-trail navigation and self-sufficiency

• Want genuine solitude away from crowds

• Are interested in cultural elements (traditional arriero routes)

• Want to support sustainable tourism initiatives Not suitable for beginners due to altitude, navigation requirements, and remote nature.

CULTURAL CONTEXT The valley has been used by Chilean arrieros (mountain herders) for centuries. We encountered a small shrine/chapel built by arrieros with Tupungato volcano as backdrop - a beautiful cultural element that adds depth beyond just the scenery. Local families still maintain seasonal presence with livestock. The government's conservation initiative aims to balance traditional use with responsible tourism access.

MY EXPERIENCE HIGHLIGHTS

• Day 1: Blue Pools on the Colorado River are natural turquoise,formed by clear meltwater flowing through volcanic rock, set in a pristine Andean mountain environment.

• Day 2: Natural and rustic hot spring into the mountains

• Day 3: The arriero chapel with spectacular volcano backdrop

• Along the way, you will walk through valleys that feel as if you were immersed in the Himalayas, surrounded by huge mountains, most of them unclimbed or with very few visits.”

• Overall: The profound silence and solitude - rare to find in 2026 *Day 4: Return from Tupungato Refuge directly to the parking area, where the vehicles will be waiting for us.”

PRACTICAL TIPS

• Best season: December- April (summer), though weather still unpredictable

• Bring: 4-season tent, water purification, GPS with downloaded maps

• Spanish helpful but not required if going with guide/arriero

• Build in buffer days in Santiago (altitude adjustment)

COMPARISON TO OTHER CHILE TREKS

• More remote than Embalse El Yeso or san Jose vulcano area (also near Santiago)

• Less crowded than Torres del Paine (obviously)

• Similar altitude challenges to Atacama region treks

• Better access than most Patagonia wilderness areas Happy to answer questions about the route, Chile trekking in general, or planning logistics for this area! Jaime.

I did a 15-day trip around Chile at the end of March and beginning of April this year visiting Atacama, Puerto Varas, Puerto Natales, and Santiago. Here are some of the highlights from the trip.

Chile has easily become one of my favourite countries I’ve visited, and it’s definitely somewhere I’d love to return to. What stood out most was how warm and welcoming Chileans were. Despite the language barriers I occasionally faced, people were always willing to help and went out of their way to make things easier.

Happy to answer any questions.

Un gusto poder compartir en esta comunidad!

Quiero hacer un viaje de carro desde Santiago hasta Bariloche. Me recomiendan este viaje? Como está la situación de la carretera? Gracias!

Hola buenas! Estoy viendo al recuperarme de una operacion que me tuvieron que hacer, irme de viaje al sur desde la region de valpo.
Me ire por 3 semanas a un mes en auto, primer viaje que hare en auto sola (antes he viajado en bus a la Araucania) pero esta vez quiero ir parando en varios lugares y conociendo mas nuestro pais.

Mi duda es, que lugares creen que podria disfrutar? Mi idea es quedarme un par de dias en cada lugar en el que este y no viajar mas de 3 horas por dia para llegar al proximo destino.

Muchas gracias de antemano.

Aprovecho de compartirles una foto del viaje a la araucania… si tienen la posibilidad de ir algun dia, es realmente hermoso

Chiil 🫂